Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS, previously PCOS)

On 12 May 2026 the global endocrine community formally renamed Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). The change — endorsed by The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology and The Endocrine Society after a multi-year consultation with 56 institutions and 22,000+ survey responses — recognises that the condition is not primarily about ovarian cysts. It is a whole-body endocrine + metabolic disorder that happens to involve the ovaries. The old name caused confusion: many women with PCOS don't actually have cysts on imaging, and the cysts (when present) are a downstream effect, not the cause.

For day-to-day clinical care nothing changes overnight. Diagnostic criteria, treatment, and your existing prescriptions are the same. The new name will gradually replace the old one in academic papers, then in patient education material, then in routine OPD notes — ICD-11 is expected to adopt PMOS by 2028.

What is PMOS (PCOS)?

PMOS is a hormonal condition where the body produces too much androgen (male-pattern hormone) and the ovaries don't release eggs on a regular monthly schedule. This shows up as irregular or missed periods, acne, unwanted hair growth on the face/chin, scalp hair thinning, and difficulty getting pregnant. About 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in India have PMOS — but only a fraction are diagnosed because the symptoms are often dismissed as "just hormonal" or attributed to weight.

How we diagnose it at Asian Hospital

A PMOS workup is not a single test. It is a combination of:

• Clinical history — period pattern, acne, hair growth, weight changes.
• Hormone panel — FSH, LH, testosterone, prolactin, AMH, thyroid (TSH/T3/T4).
• Metabolic screen — fasting glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin, lipid profile.
• Pelvic ultrasound — to assess ovarian morphology (but, as the rename emphasises, you can have PMOS without polycystic ovaries on scan).

Total workup runs about ₹3,500–5,500 depending on which hormones the gynaecologist orders. Most cases are confirmed in a single OPD visit + one fasting blood draw.

Treatment

PMOS treatment is layered. The foundation is always lifestyle — even a 5-7% reduction in body weight can restore ovulation in many patients. On top of that, we use:

• Hormonal therapy — combined oral contraceptive pills regulate cycles and treat acne / unwanted hair. Used when pregnancy is not the goal.
• Ovulation induction — letrozole or clomiphene when the goal is conception.
• Metabolic medication — metformin (especially when insulin resistance is present) and, in selected cases, newer GLP-1 agonists.
• Dermatology / cosmetic support — for acne, hirsutism, alopecia. We coordinate with our dermatology team on this.

PMOS is a long-term condition. The goal is not "cure" but well-controlled cycles, healthy metabolism, and prevention of the late complications (Type 2 diabetes, endometrial cancer risk if periods are skipped for years). Annual review with the gynaec OPD is recommended for every diagnosed patient.